Balmiki
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Balmiki is a prominent Dalit or Harijan community of the state of Punjab in India, South India and Pakistan (e.g. Sindh).
Contents |
[edit] Background
Most Balimikis are from the Chura caste, although through their faith they reject the caste system.
Maharishi Valmiki Himself was a Kirata Bhil.
Chura is an occupation and is therefore used as a derogatory term to describe the Valmiki community.
Valmikis is the name given to those devotees that follow the teachings of Bhagwan Valmik as portrayed in the Yoga-Vasistha and the Ramayana, both works written by the Maharishi Valmiki.
'Balmiki' and not 'Valmiki' is often the preferred way of spelling by people from the state of Punjab.
Today this sect exists mostly in the countries of India and Pakistan. However in the latter it is having a hard time because temples are being bulldozed by the government.
[edit] Followers of Sage Valmiki
Like the Ravidasis (followers of Guru Raidas) and the Kabirpanthis (followers of Kabir), the Balmikis believe that Sage Valmiki was the avatar of Bhagwan or God, and they uphold his work, the Ramayana as their holy scripture.
Sage Valmiki is also known as "Adi-Kavi" meaning prime poet.
[edit] Conversion
Many have been converted to other religions scuh as Islam and Christianity because the Balmikis are mostly of backward castes and many backward castes have been converted to these two religions.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
It should be noted that before Pakistan was created, it was a part of India, where there were a significant number of Valmiki's residing, an example of this is shown in the below link
 |
This article about an Indian ethnicity or social group is a stub. See the WikiProject India for article coordination. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
